Hearing on “China’s Media and Information Controls – The Impact in China and the United States”
Opening Statement of Carolyn Bartholomew, Chairman
September 10, 2009
Washington, D.C.
Good morning and welcome to the final hearing of the U.S.-China Economic & Security Review Commission’s 2009 reporting cycle. On behalf of the Commission, I give a special note of thanks to the Senate Rules Committee, particularly to Senator Nelson and to Anthony Schmidt of the Committee staff, for offering us the use of this room today.
In its mandate from Congress, the Commission is directed to examine “the implications of restrictions on speech and access to information in the People's Republic of China for its relations with the United States in the areas of economic and security policy.” Our purpose in today’s hearing is to evaluate specific elements of freedom of expression in China, including China’s pledges for greater access for foreign journalists, and potential policy options regarding the involvement of U.S. firms with China’s information control practices.
In October 2008, the Chinese government announced that new media policies for foreign journalists, announced in January 2007 as part of the lead-up to the Olympic Games, would be made permanent. So far, foreign correspondents’ and human rights organizations’ reviews about the impact and effectiveness of these reforms have been mixed.
Additionally, the emergence of the Internet in China has challenged the Chinese government’s monopoly on the public flow of information. In response, the Chinese government maintains a sophisticated, multilayered system for filtering web content that is partially reliant upon technology imported from the West, and also requires the compliance of many western companies that provide internet services in China. Two potential policy responses have emerged to address this issue: the draft legislation of the Global On-Line Freedom Act, and the Global Network Initiative (GNI), a voluntary industry code of ethics and best practices.
To help us better understand these issues, we’ll be joined today by a number of distinguished witnesses from both academia and non-governmental organizations. We sought representation from the Global Network Initiative as well as its component corporate members, but they regrettably declined to join us today, citing an important meeting for the Initiative previously scheduled for today.
Commissioner Daniel Blumenthal is serving with me as the co-chair for this hearing. Once again, I welcome all of you to this hearing, and I now turn to Commissioner Blumenthal for his opening remarks.